I am beginning to realize the value of this project. By deliberately trying to set aside at least one hour each day that is specifically devoted to "learning", I am able to maintain a steady pace, even when other demands make the day frantic.

Today I began reading, "The Cathedral and the Bazaar" by Eric Raymond. This is a book about the open source approach to software development. This book ties in nicely with Lawrence Lessig's "Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace". Combined with Tim Berners-Lee's "Weaving the Web", I have three good books that give a knowledgeable perspective on the future of the internet.

Raymond provides a number of lovely pithy quotes. I simply want to make note of some that caught my attention, sometimes modified for use on this page.

• "Given enough eyeballs, all bugs are shallow" (p.27)
• Every good work of software starts by scratching a developer's itch.
• It's almost always easier to start from a good partial solution than from nothing at all.
• Plan to throw one away: you will, anyhow.
• you often don't really undestand the problem until the first time you implement a solution.
• If you have the right attitude, interesting problems will find you.
• Given a bit of encouragement, your users will diagnose problems and suggest fixes far more quickly than you could unaided.
• Release early. Release often. And listen to your customers.
• more users find more bugs because adding more users adds more different ways of stressing the program.
• If you treat your beta-testers as if they're your most valuable resource, they will respond by becoming your most valuable resource.

I am now on page 46. More bullets tomorrow.

I am struck by how well these principles fit to other tasks, such as writing a thesis or engaging in almost any project.